Apparently, Honda invited some journalists to Japan so they could go check out new technology carefully packaged into existing cars, lest anyone reveal super-secret things like what the next Acura RL looks like. No matter, we’ve got everything below.

The 2014 Honda Fit will get a new EarthDreams/CVT combo. Only a few specs were released, but we do know that it’s good for a 6 percent bump in torque and a 10 percent boost in fuel economy. The proof will be in the pudding, since 112 lb-ft of torque doesn’t sound like much of an improvement over the current Fit’s wheezy engine.

Another Fit mule was outfitted (hehe) with Honda’s next-gen hybrid system; a 1.5L gasoline 4-cylinder with an electric motor and a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox. The new system is said to deliver a 30 percent gain in fuel economy. Maximum EV-only range is 3 km, with top speed in electric mode coming in at 70 km/h.

The next-generation Acura RLX will come in front or all-wheel drive. The AWD version will use Honda’s new hybrid system to power the rear wheels, with a gasoline engine at the front. The FWD version will get 4-wheel steering, just like the Preludes of yesterday. Apparently, this technology might filter down to other cars as well. Who knows, maybe we’ll see the return of digital dashboards and motorized seat belts.

Good to see Honda learned from their inability to sell a generic-looking sedan with trick AWD for 50 grand.

What they learned is this time, they’ll try to sell a generic-looking sedan with trick AWD for SIXTY grand, and they’ll ask 50 large for FWD with rear wheels that turn. (Although in fairness, they are adding an “X” to the name.)

That may actually work. A lot of buyers in this segment are looking for status.

If you know about cars, you would say, oh that Acura is 90% the functinality at 80% the price. But people don’t buy it, because they judge a car by the price tag. If it’s asking $60k, it must be better than the $50k. If it’s a Caucasian brand, it must be better than Asian.

I saw a Legend this weekend, looked like it had just come out of the box, and was reminded that there was once a time that people desired honda/acura products and would pay a premium for them, those days are gone. And that was Honda’s super-secret, super hybrid system, when they start selling vaporware and release crap its called the K-Car

My dad had an ’88 Prelude Si in red with every option… *except* the AWS, which he declined because it made the car feel “weird” on the test drive, he said. That was a fantastic car in all respects, light and agile and quick and sure-footed and comfortable and 30 mpg year after year to 200k miles and beyond. Somewhere deep in its little corporate heart, Honda must still know how to build a car like that, but I haven’t seen evidence of it in a while.

Is it bad that I could identify the 4WS Prelude before the ad ran simply by seeing the model-unique wheel castings and not even checking for the tiny B-pillar emblem?

Of all the special performance variations of that era, 4WS Preludes were the most subtle in their exterior cues. And the all-mechanical implementation for steering the rear wheels was the sort of engineering genius that seems to be in short supply these days.

My old Mazda 323 could turn on a dime –and give a nickel in change. My current Mazda 6 turns like a truck, relatively speaking. If Honda could invent a cheap, simple 4-wheel-steering system to make the 6 (Accord) turn circles like a 323 (Fit), then I’m sold.

Honda’s 4WS was a simple system that was completely mechanical. Ultimately I believe the rear wheels that steer died because it answered a question that nobody asked. At that time it also made a statement that Japanese makes were making great technological advances while Detroit struggled just to get panel fits correct. Years later, 4WS actually had some real value with the Delphi Quadrasteer on the GM truck lineup. Those who have the feature absolutely love it. However, it died as well because of GM’s foolish pricing structure that made the Quadrasteer part of a $5,000 plus option package.

What I’m hoping is that the SH-SH-AWD (Sport-Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive; what a mouthful!) will also debut in the 2014 Acura MDX (which will available next year), and that it will have a net output that is tantamount to that of a mainstream V8. Because one of Honda’s biggest issues is having limited power-trains. The current Acura RL can’t even compete entirely with the lackluster Lincoln MKS, because the MKS at least offers the V8-like twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, where Acura tops out at a considerably-less-powerful engine. Likewise the lack of a V8 or V8-equivalent has kept the Acura MDX from competing fully with the Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne. I mean, we don’t need 500 HP rockets from Acura, but it needs to start reaching for greater goals…